Seeking Japan's Gray Market

Special Task Force Focuses on Increasing Japanese Arrivals with Special Emphasis on Senior Citizen Segment.

(7/28/2003) The private sector and public sector working group charged by the Government to assist the recovery of the Japanese tourism arrival figures has pointed to Japan's senior citizens as a valuable segment still ripe for promotional efforts.

A member of the Japanese working group and owner of Bali-based Japanese inbound operator Rama Tours, Ms. Makiko Iskandar told the Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia that a number of activities are being launched to penetrate the Japanese senior citizen market, including special packages aimed at the specific needs of that market.

In addition to Ms. Iskandar, the other members of the Japanese working group include Windu Nuryanti from the Yogya Tourism Board; Irman Imawan from Garuda Indonesia; Rio Kondo of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI); and Hamdan Rivai and Turman Siagian representing the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Following the October 2002 bombing of a Kuta nightspot Japanese arrivals to Bali decreased by more than 50%.

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